Latchable cover structure



July 28, 1936.

E; w. PARKER LATCHABLE COVER STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 24, 1934 11'. "(ParkerPatented July 28, 1936 TA'i-Es PATENT OFFIQE 2,049,313 LATCHABLE COVERSTRUCTURE Elwood W. Parker, Murfreesboro, N. C. 7 Application November24, 1934, Serial N0. 754,671

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a latchable cover structure for the open topsof portable containers, such as baskets or barrels, and has for itsobject to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, acover-structure having as a part thereof a combined reinforcing andcoupling means for detachably securing the structure in closed positionwith respect to the open top of a basket or barrel. 7 A further objectof the invention is totprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, acircular cover structure of the slatted type having one of its slats,disposed at the diametric center thereof, provided lengthwise with areinforcing ele l5 ment having inherent parts of its ends coacting withapa'ir' of keeper members disposed at diametrically spaced points of anopen topbasket or barrel for latching the cover structure in closureposition with respect to the basket or 2'0 barrel. 7

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, which is simple in its construction andarrangement, strong, durable, of slatted form, compact, of ar- 2'5 cuatecontour in cross-section, thoroughly efiicient in its use, readilysecured to and released from an open top barrel or basket, andinexpensive to manufacture.

To the above ends essentially, and to others so which may hereinafterappear, theinvention con sists of such parts and such combination ofparts which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. V

' In the drawing: 35 Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in vertical sectionof an open top container, showing the adap' tation therewith of acover-structure in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the cover-struc- 40 ture secured upon theupper open end of a container,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the cover-structure in non-attachedposition,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical sec- 45 tion and uponenlarged scale of the cover-structure and container coupled together andfurther illustrating a keeper in inactive position in dotted and fulllines and in active position in full lines,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation and upon an enlargedscale of the coverstructure and container coupled together,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in plan and. upon 55 an enlarged scaleshowing the manner in which of body part 9 and an outer hoop llpositioned 1 against the outer face and having its top edge flush withthe top edge of body part 9. The hoops l0 and H are suitably secured tobody part 9. There is anchored to the upper portion of the container 8at diametrically opposite points thereof a pair of oppositely disposedbendable compressible keepers l2 of V-shaped contour. The keepers l2extend laterally from the hoop I l the necessary distance for obtaininga function to be hereinafter referred to. Each keeper l2 ineludes ananchoring part l3 and a latching part It.

With reference to Figures 1 to 6, the coverstructure generally indicatedat l5 includes an annular rim I 6, a pair of spaced diagonally extendingparallel slats IT, a pair of spaced diagonally extending parallel slatsl8 which are disposed in an opposite direction with respect to thedirection in which slats H are disposed, a slat l9 arranged over slatsl1, l8' and a slat 20 arranged over and of greater length than slat IS.The several slats referred to have their ends extend beyond the outerside face of rim IS. The slat I9 is disposed at the transverse diametriccenter of hoop Hi. The slat 20 is disposed at the horizontal diametriccenter of the hoop l6. Each of the slats l1, inwardly adjacent to oneend thereof, is secured by the spaced holdfast means 2|, 22 to the topedge of the rim l6 at a point between zero and 90 of the latter. Each ofthe slats l1, inwardly adjacent to the other end thereof is secured bythe spaced holdfast means 23, 24 to the top edge of the rim l6 at apoint between 180 and 270 thereof. Each of the slats l8, inwardlyadjacent to one end thereof, is secured by spaced holdfast means 25, 26to the top edge of rim l6 between 270 and 360 thereof. Each of the slatsl8, inwardly adjacent to the other end thereof is secured by spacedholdfast means 21, 28 to the top edge of rim It at a point between andthereof. The slat IS, inwardly adjacent to the end 29 thereof, issecured by spaced holdfast means 30, 3| to the top edge of rim It. Theslat l9, inwardly adjacent to its end 32, is secured by the spacedholdfast means 55 median of slat l9 aligns with the 90 and 270 points ofrim l6. The slat 20, inwardly adjacent formed by the slats l1, I8axially of the cover.

The slat 20 extends across the central part of slat H7. The slat I9 issecured to'one slat I1 and one slat 'I B by the spaced holdfast means42, 43 which also act to secure a slat'll and a slat I8 together. Theslat 20 is secured to the other slat I! and the other slat l8 by thespaced holdfast means, 45 which 'also act tonsecure the said other slatsI1 and "I8 together. I

' There is associated with the slat IS a combined reinforcing andcoupling element 46 formed from a length of bendable metallic materialof the desired gauge. The material 41 is bent and also twisted uponitself toeprovide said element 46 with a pair of reinforced end parts 48terminat ing in a'closed bendable loop 49 formed of a diverging outerportion 50 and I a converging inner portion 5|. The portion 50" of theloop Which tapersv towards theouter end of the latter is of greaterlength than the portion 5! which tapers towards the inner end of theloop. The portion 55 constitutes a compressing means for a. purpose tobe referred to. The portions 50 ofzthe 1 loops 49 project beyond the endedges 29, 32 of the slat- I9. The element 46, at the inner ends ofitstwisted parts 48 is anchored-to the slot l9, at the longitudinalmedian of the latter by the spaced holdfast means 52, 53;

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the container 8, "atjits top, isformedat'diametrically opposite points with a'pair of upstandinginverted yoke-shape handles 54 through which extends the end portions ofslat Zllwhen thecoverstructure 15 is arranged in closure positionrelative torthe container. .When structure l5 is in the positionjustreferred ,to the rim 5- will be members l2 are then passed upward"through the tapered portions 50 of the loops 49'and' bent outwardlyanddownwardly to the position shown in Figures 1, 4=-and 5. 'The taperedportions 50 of the loops 49 will compress the sides of the latch--2,049,313 33, 34 tothe top edge of rim IS. The longitudinal 1 ing partsM of the keeper members [2 together to set up a frictional latch or lockbetween the element 46 and keeper members l2, Thelatching parts [4 of cthe keeper-members I2, when compressed, will be as shown in Figure 5.When the cover-structure I5 is latched or detachably connected to thecontainer 8 the element 46 acts as a reinforcing means for slat l9. 7 V

The modified form of cover-structure 55, shown in Figure '7, is of thesame arrangement as that shown in'Figure 3 with the exception that theslats 56, 51 thereof, which correspond to the slats 7 i9, 20respectively, are of the same length and the slat 51 has secured theretoacombined reinforcing and coupling element 46 in the same manner astheslat 56. The holdfast means 58, 59 of structure 55 corresponds to andperforms, the

same function as holdfast means 44, 45, but in addition, acts also forsecuring element 55 to slat 5?. Otherwise than as stated the form shownin Figure '7 is the same'as, that shown in Figure 3. Whencover-structure 55 is employed it is to be used in connection with fourkeeper members {2.7

' What I claim is: V V

A cover structure comprising a hoop, a pair of spaced parallel innerslats anchored inwardly adjacent their ends directly to the top edge ofg "and disposed diagonally relative to the hoop, av

pair of parallel outer slats having stretches of their" length seatedupon said inner slats and anchored inwardly adjacent their ends directlyto the-top edge of and disposed diagonally relativeto'said hoop, thesaid outer slats being extended in an opposite direction with respect-tosaid inner slats, an inner singleslat having its lengthwise medianaligning with the horizontal diametric center of the hoop, said singleslat havingstretches thereof'mounted on the said" outer pair of slatsand anchored inwardly adja cent its ends directly to the top edge of thehoop, an element formed from alength of bendable metallic materialsecured upon the outer face of said single slat at the longitudinalmedian of the latter and having each end in the form of a loop extendedbeyond the end edges of the single slat,

an outer single slat disposed at right angles to said'inner single slat,having its lengthwisemedian aligning with the transverse diametric can!,terof the hoop and being secured inwardly adjacent its'ends directlytothe top edge of the hoop,

the said outer single slat having a stretch thereof mounted on saidelement and spaced stretches thereof mounted upon the said outer pair ofslats, spaced means for securing the inner single slat to the inner andouter pairs of slats, and

ELwoon w. PARKER.

